Ski knee and snowboard wrist injuries are a lot...Himchan Hospital needs to increase its muscle strength to reduce damage to the musculoskeletal system
Dec 17, 2024
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According to the Korea Consumer Agency, a total of 1,234 ski and snowboard safety accidents were received from 2019 to 2023, increasing every year since 2021, after the end of COVID-19, 443 cases were received last year, up 86.9% from the previous year (237). There were mainly 1,137 slip or fall accidents, accounting for 92.1% of the total, followed by 56 injuries from collisions.
Oh Seung-mok, head of the orthopedic surgery department at Bupyeong Himchan Hospital, said, `If you want to ski or snowboard, you need to balance your body well if you don't want to fall at the moment.' `Especially because it accelerates in inclined areas, you can suffer from fatal injuries such as fractures in joints such as knees and wrists during falls or collisions."
◇Ski 'Knee', etc. Injuries are common, and snowboarding 'Wrist' Caution
Winter sports, which enjoy pleasure and thrill while descending the sloping snow garden at a high speed, are only about four months of the year, so many people wait for snow and cold winds.
To ski or snowboard, the strength of the legs, waist, and ankle must be supported. It's not just standing and riding, it's because it glides down while controlling the speed for a long distance. The speed of skiing or snowboarding enjoyed by the general public is about 15 to 30 km/h, and it can cause various injuries throughout the body from the neck to the ankle due to a large impact when accelerating or colliding.
In particular, wet and heavy wet snow is expected to fall this winter. The wet snow contains a lot of moisture, so the slope of the ski resort can become a kind of slushy state. If the slope is squishy, it does not speed well compared to dry snow conditions, but it does not slide well, so the edge of a ski or snowboard is easily caught in the snow, which can cause a fall and loss of balance.
Skiing often injures the hips, legs, and feet because it is mainly used on the lower body. There are also accidents in which the leg is bent during downhill and the shin bone is broken or fractured while stepping on the ground with the knee. Even if it is not fractured, excessive rotation with the knee slightly bent by collision or external force while the skied foot touches the ground can cause meniscus damage.
In addition, when you lose your balance and fall back, the anterior or posterior cruciate ligament of your knee may stretch or break. Most beginners instinctively touch their hands the moment they fall, causing fatal damage to their shoulders and wrists. There is a risk of sprains or fractures due to excessive bending of the wrist, and thumb injuries are also common when falling while holding the pole. When you fall while skiing, you have to learn how to fall well, and you have to let go of the pole to reduce finger injuries.
The snowboard has both legs fixed to the deck, so when it falls, it falls forward or backward, and is used as the center of the upper body. The most frequent injury is because, unlike skiing, you don't use poles, so you touch the floor with your hands when you fall. In addition, you should be careful of serious injuries such as fractures of your lower arm when you fall forward or concussion when making a direction call due to centrifugal force.
◇ If you build muscle strength normally, damage to the musculoskeletal system will be reduced in the event of a fall or collision
Most ski and snowboard accidents can cause serious injuries not only to oneself but also to others, so be careful to prevent safety accidents. First of all, it is important to select equipment to prevent injury. Protective equipment such as helmets, goggles, and gloves must be worn according to your body size. In addition, it is recommended to use a slope that suits your level, and to ride or slow down on a course lower than usual when the snow condition of the slope is not good. Don't look away while you're riding. In addition, keep a safe distance so that you don't collide with others. When you fall, roll your entire body around like a ball to lower the risk of injury if you fall safely.
If an accident with a suspected fracture occurs, it is good to quickly report it to the deployed safety personnel or 119 and provide first aid. Fix the splint so that the suspected fracture area does not move and place it higher than the heart. It is recommended to cool down the fracture area because of the severe fever, swelling, and pain, and if there is external bleeding, you should stop the bleeding with clean gauze or cloth to prevent it from leading to infection.
Oh Seung-mok, head of the orthopedic surgery department at Bupyeong Himchan Hospital, explained, `If a person who is not exercising stands up and suddenly does a high-intensity exercise that speeds up, cardiopulmonary function, joints, and muscles will be strained.' `If you usually build muscle strength, you can reduce the damage to the musculoskeletal system caused by falls or collisions.'
The muscles of the thighs, buttocks, and abdomen are mainly used, so it is good to train these muscles normally. In addition, if you have a good quick-witted ability, you can respond to unexpected situations or irregular snow conditions in a moment, so you can prevent injuries or accidents.
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bellho@sportschosun.com
